Episode 5: Nick Fuentes

Beyond The Rock

What's going on?! My name is Nick Fuentes, and I’m from San Antonio, Texas. I quit my job as a professional chef and business owner, and moved to Austin to immerse myself into the rock climbing community. I had recently discovered it and was in mad pursuit of a career in a field I knew nothing about. I was just stoked on rock climbing!! I got hired at Austin Rock Gym as an entry level desk personnel making minimum wage. There, I learned all about climbing and the technical systems involved. I began to get my feet wet with indoor instruction and knew that was what I wanted to do for a living. Shortly after I started at “ARG”, I began ticking off all the trad climbing prerequisites for the Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course at Enchanted Rock.

Fast forward 2 years, it's 2017, and I'm living out of my Jeep Wrangler somewhere in Las Vegas, Nevada. This became the stomping grounds and multi-pitch haven I would come to love. I ended up spending the next 8 months of my aimless life over there until I ran out of money after attending my SPI course with the AMGA. I spent a lot of time dialing in my systems and exploring new terrain like multi-pitch trad routes, summits, and all types of 4th and 5th class sketchy rappels, and other tantalizing summit experiences. In 2018, before leaving Las Vegas, I tested out with Instructor Elaina Arenz and received my official SPI certification from the AMGA.

Inevitably, I ended up back in Texas where I now work as a climbing Instructor at a local climbing gym called Crux, I help teach the 101, top rope, and lead climbing classes. On the weekends I serve as a Single Pitch Instructor, and outdoor educator with a local non-profit organization called Explore Austin. This is a group whose main focus is getting children outdoors to participate in adventure sports. In the summer and fall seasons, I work in Colorado as a Trip Leader with Explore Austin, as well as another guide company called Outpost Wilderness Adventure (OWA).

In my free time I do what I can to educate myself, train, and prepare for the next step in my career ladder ..the rigorous rock guide course. I take many trips to El Potrero Chico in Mexico (EPC) to get my big wall fill and I also enjoy flying around the to visit friends around the states for climbing adventure. I recently introduced my nephew and nieces to climbing and it has been a lot of fun. I'm always stoked to climb and I love meeting new people at the crag. I have established many profound relationships with my fellow rock climbers. What little time I do have, I enjoy relaxing and hanging with friends and family. Last but not least - keep the stoke HIGH!

Shout outs

Nick Fuentes

Frontier Outpost

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course

Elaina Arenz

Tommy Blackwell

MBS Challenge 2020

Travis O'Neil - SPI Guide

Hosts

Emilie Hernandez

@cookclimbyoga

@texasladycrushers

[e-mail]

Jeremy Arntz

@sleepeatclimbrepeat

@thicc_climbing

@beyondtherockpodcast